Roll-polishing apparatus



Sept. 14, 1943. P. HAIG 2,329,530

ROLL-POLISHING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 16, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 jig sept. 14, 1943. P. HAI@ 2,329,530

ROLL-POLISHING APPARATUS Filed Feb; 16, 1942 44 Sheets-Sheet 5 Sept. 14, 1943. P, HAlG ROLL-POLISHING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 16, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 bZ/ridefarf fazzzZ 7a @mt y MW,

Patented Sept. 14, 1943 ROLL-rousmNG ArPAR'rUs Paul Haig, Chicago, Ill., assigner to Inland Steel Company, Chicago, lll., a corporation of D ela- Application February 1e, 1942, serial N0. 431,061

ZCIaims.

My invention relates generally to apparatus for polishing the rolls of mills, such as for example those used in the rolling of steel or other ferrous metals; and as to a certain feature thereof to such mills of the so-called 4-high type,I comprising a pair of working rolls each backed by a so-called back-up roll.

In the use of rolling mills objectionable matter such as dirt and metal grit becomes cleposited on the rolls and is required to be removed for the production of the desired product.

One of my objects is to provide improvements in apparatus of the character referred to whereby the cleaning operation will be eiected positively in an automatic manner.

Another object is to provide apparatus of the character set forth for use in simultaneously cleaning both the working rolls and the back-up rolls of a i-high mill, by the use lof a single prime mover.

Another object is to provide a simple and economical construction of apparatus for this.

purpose; and other objects as will be manifest from the following description.

Referring to the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a view in vertical sectional elevation of a 4high mill equipped with apparatus embodying my invention, the section being taken at the line I on Fig. 2 and viewed in the direc-J tion of the arrow.

Figure 2 is a plan sectional view of the structure shown in Fig. l, with certain parts broken away.

Figure 3 is a front view of the structure of Figs. 1 and 2, the structure being viewed from the left in these gures.

Figure 4 is an enlarged section taken at the line 4 on Fig. 2 and viewed in the direction of the arrow.

Figure 5 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation of a valve and valve-controlling mechanismfor controlling the operation of the polishing elements of the apparatus, the section being taken at the line 5 on Fig. 6 and viewed in the direction of the arrow; Aand Figure 6, a section taken at the line 6 on Fig. 5 and viewed in the direction of the arrow.

I have chosen to illustrate my invention in connection with a 4-high mill, such as is used for rolling steel, the relatively small working rolls thereof, represented at I0 and II and the relatively large back-up rolls thereof, represented v at I2 and I3, being journaled in the frame I4 of the roll-stand.

In this arrangement provision is made for reciprocating lengthwise of the rolls and in engagement therewith at the nips between the working rolls and the back-up rolls, polishing elements, such as for example polishing blocks, represented at I5 and I6, respectively, which serve to clean the rolls.

Referring first to the mechanism by which the lower polishing element I5 is operated, it comprises astationary rigid frame I1 extending lengthwise of the rolls of the mill stand and in front thereof and formed of a pair of spaced apart brackets I8 and I9 secured to the mill frame I4, and the tie rods 20 and 2| rigidly connecting the brackets together, a square-shaft 22 extending lengthwise of the frame |4 being journaled in the brackets I8 and |9 and held against lengthwise movement.

Mounted on the tie rods '20 and 2| and the square shaft 22 to be reciprocated lengthwise of the frame I 4 is a carriage 23 comprising a pair of spaced apart plates 24 and 25 having bearing extensions 26 and 2l, through which the tie rods 23 and 2| and the square shaft 22 extend, the shaft 22 being free to rotate in the carriage 23; a channel plate 28 in the space between the plates 23 and 25 and secured at its end to these plates; and a slide 29 to which the polishing element I5 is connected, mounted in the anges of the channel plate 28 and slidable toward and away from the mill stand.

The slide 29 is shown as formed of a pair of spaced apart angle bars 30 and 3| connected together by tie rods 32 and 33 by which the slide is mounted on the carriage 23, the tie rods 32 and 33 extending slidingly through openings 34 in the flanges of the channel plate 28, and an arm 35 secured at one end to the angle iron 3| and provided at its other end with a clevis 36 secured to the arm 35 by a horizontal pivot 31, thepolshing element I5 being secured in the clevis 36.

Means are provided to actuate the slide 29 to move .the polishing element I5 into and out of operative position, and to cause the polishing element to exert.l when in operating position, a steady predetermined pressure against the rolls. The means shown for this purpose comprise a lever 38 whichy floats, at a hub portion 39 there-4 on, on the square shaft 22 and extends at its outer end into an opening 48 in the angle-bar 30 of the slide 29, the hubvportion 39 of the lever 38 having a square hole 4| which matches the square shaft 22 and through which the latter extends, whereby the lever 38 is oscillated responsive to the rotation of the square shaft 22.

2 On the extended end 42 of the square shaft^22 a lever 43, h aving a slidably adjustable weight 44 thereon, is Journaled. The extended end 42 of the shaft 22 lies within a hub 45 keyed to the shaft 22 and having lugs or wings 46 and 41 extending in opposite directions and into the path of movement 'of the lever 43 in the swinging thereof in opposite directions.

When the lever 43 is thrown away from the mill it bears against-the lug 46 and rotates the shaft 22 in a direction to move the slide 29 and polishing element I5 toward the mill to the position shown in the drawings, the force exerted by the lever 43 in this position causing the polishing element I5 to press steadily and with predetermined force against the rolls; such force being regulated sby the adjustable weight 44. When the lever 43 is thrown toward the Amill it engages the lug 41 and rotates the shaft 22 in a vdirection to move the slide 29 and polishing element I5 away from the mill.

The means shown for reciprocating the carriage 23 and with it the polishing element I5, comprises a fluid-pressure-operated piston and cylinder mechanism 48 (the fluid pressure used by Way of example and preferably being compressed air) formed of a stationarily supported cylinder 49 and a piston (not shown) operating therein and having a piston rod 58 pivotally connected at 5I with lugs 52 on the carriage 23. 'I'hese means also comprise mechanism for controlling the supplying of operating uid to the cylinder 49 and the exhausting of the spent uid therefrom to effect the automatic reciprocation of the carriage 23 and polishing element I5. The mechanism shown for this purpose comprises a valve device 53 operative in one position to supply fluid pressure to one end of the cylinder 49 and open the other end thereof to exhaust, to move Vthe carriage 28 and polishing element I5 in one I8 relative to which the carriage 23 is slidable; a

link 58 pivoted at one end, as represented at 59, to the rod 51; a lever 68 pivoted at 6I to the standard 56 and carrying a weight 62 slidably adjustl general description thereof will therefore sumce. It comprises a valve casing 13 affording an upper inlet chamber 14 and a lower exhaust chamber 15, a pipe 16, which leads from a suitable source (not shown) of operating iluid pressure, opening through the bottom of the lower chamber 15 into a tube 11 communicating with the upper chamber 14 through an opening 11a in the bottom of the chamber 14. An exhaust pipe l18 opens into the lower exhaust chamber 15 through an opening 19 in the bottom thereof. A tube. 88 opens at its opposite ends into openings 8| and 82 in the top and bottom walls of the lower chamber 15, and

. has a `solid partition'83 between its ends dividing the tube 88 above and below the partition 83 being ported as represented at 81 and 88, respectively. v

Slidable vertically on the tube 88 is a sleeve 89 having an annular groove 98 in its inner surface (Fig. 5) which controls communication between the ports 81 and 88 and between the ports 88 and the exhaust chamber 15, the upper portion 89a of the sleeve being of larger diameter than its lower portion 89b. In the raised position of the sleeve 89, the ports 81 and 88 are out of communication and the ports 88 are open to the exhaust chamber 15 permitting of the driving of the carriage 23 by the piston and cylinder mechanism 48 to the right in Fig. 3 responsive to fluid pressure introduced into the left hand end of cylinder 4 9. In the lowered position of the sleeve 89 the ports 81 and 88 are in communication and the ports 88 closed to the exhaust chamber 15 permitting actuating fluid pressure to enter the right hand end of the cylinder 49.

The sleeve 89 is reciprocated by means of a i plunger 98h vertically slidable in the valve casing able thereon; and a link 63 pivoted at its upper end, as indicated at 64, to the lever 68 and between its ends, to the link 58, by a pivot pin 65- on the link 63 extending into a slot 66 in the link 58, the lower end of the link 63 having a rollerl 61 bearing downwardly on the bridge member '54. The slidable rod 51 is `provided at opposite sides ofthe carriage 23 with stops 68 and 69, in the form of collars, slidably adjustable thereon and adapted to be set in any desired position length- `cylinder 49 and the exhaust of the spent uid therefrom may be employed. That shown at 53 is of a well known 4-way type and the following 13, and straddling the upper portion 89a. of the sleeve at a recess 9I in the plunger, as more clearly shownof the other sleeve and plunger assembly presently to be described.

Control means 92 are also provided for the left hand end of the cylinder 49 of identically the same construction as the control means above described for the right hand end of this cylinder. 'I'he partitioned tube of the means 92 and corresponding with the tube 88, is represented at 93 and connects at its lower end with an opening in the bottom wall of the lower exhaust chamber 15. this opening communicating with a pipe 94 which opens into the left hand end of a cylinder 49, the upper-end of the tube 93 communicating with an opening 95 in the top wall of this chamber which opens into the upper inlet chamber 14. The sleeve of these means and corresponding with the sleeve 89 is represented at 96 and the actuating plunger therefor, corresponding with the plunger 98h, at 91, the manner in which the sleeve at its upper end is straddled by the plunger at its recess here indicated at 98, being more clearly illustrated.

'I'he plungers 98b and 91 are pivotally connected to the ends of the pivoted bridge 54 at opposite sides of its pivot 55 by pins 99 and |88 on the bridge and extending through slots 98a and 91a in the plungers 98h and 91, respectively, whereby in the position of the bridge 54 as shown in the drawings, the plunger 98h is in raised posi- 'leases from the shoulder` |21 and the weight of,

tion, opening th'e right hand end of the cylinder 43 to exhaust, and the plunger 31 is in lowered position in which position the left hand end oi' the cylinder 46 is lopen to the inlet chamber 14 and is closed to exhaust, in which position of the parts the carriage 23 and polishing element I6 are being driven to' the right in Fig. 3. When the bridge 64 is rocked clockwisel to its extreme posi.- tion the plunger 90b is forced to lowermost position and the plunger 91 to uppermost position, thereby reversing the ow of uid pressure to the cylinder 43 and the exhaust therefrom whereupon the carriage 23 and thepolishing block I5 are moved to the left in Fig. 3. l

From the above description itvwili be understood that when the carriage 23 moves in either direction, it rst strikes one of the springs 12,

causing the link 63 to be pulled or pushed, as the Y case may be, through the medium of the link 68. As the roller 61 moves along the bridge 54 toward the pivot 66 of the bridge, the engaged one of the springs 12 becomes compressed whereupon, the roller 61, upon reaching the center of the bridge will be caused, by the action of the spring, to snap over dead center and reverse theposition of the bridge, thereby preventing the bridge from coming to rest on dead center, the weighted lever 60 being provided to ensure such reversal of the fluid pressure controlling mechanism of the valve device 53 by the downward thrust which it yexerts on the link 63. Check pins and |02 on the standard 56 limit the stroke of the rollerl61 in different directions.

The polishing unit represented at |03 for the upper working and back-up rolls I0 and I2 is of the same general construction as the polishing unit above described. It comprises a carriage |04 shown as formed of spaced plates |05 ano |06; webs |01 connecting the plates |05 and |06 together and braced by cross bars, one of which is shown at |03, the carriage |04 being mounted to reciprocate lengthwise of the rolls of the mill, on parallel guide rods |09 and ||0 which are secured at their ends to the frame I4 of the mill and extend through the plates |05 and |06; a square shaft extending through the plates |05 and |06 and journaled at its ends in the frame I4 and rotatable in these plates; a slide I|2 shown as formed of a pair of rods II3 connected together at one end and between their ends, by cross plates I I4 and ||5, respectively, the rods ||3 being slidably mounted in the webs |01; and an arm II6 connected with the cross plate H4 and provided with a clevis I|1 pivoted thereto at I|8, in which clevis the polishing element I6 is mounted.

The polishing unit |03 also comprises means for actuating the slide ||2 to advance or retract the polishing element I6 relative to the rolls of the mill, these means comprising the square shaft III; a lever ||9 rigid with this shaft and extending at; its outer end into an opening |20 in the cross plate II 5; a lever |2| provided with an adjustable weight |22, fixed on the shaft III and latch means |23 for releasably holding the lever I2| in raised position.

The latch means |23 comprise an arm |24 pivoted at its upper end, as represented at |25 to a stationary bracket |26 on th`e frame I4 of the mill, and having a shoulder |21, and a pin |28 on the lever |2| which rests on the shoulder |21 when the lever |2| is in upwardly swung position in which position the polishing element I6 is withdrawn from operating position. Upon swinging the arm |24 outwardly the pin |23 rethe lever |2| vforces the slide I|2 and polishing element I6 toward the rollsX I3 and I2 pressing the element I6 against them.

| on the arm |24 below the shoulder |21, and engageable by the pin |23 von the lever I2| permits of the automatic locking of the lever |2I in raised position upon swinging the lattter upwardly.

In this arrangement provision is made for operating both polishing units from the same source of power, viz., the piston' and cylinder mechanism 43. To this end connections are made between the carriages 23 and |04 for operating the carriage |04 responsive to the movements of the carriage 23. These connections are shown as comprising two chains |30 and |3I, the chain |30 being connected at one end to the plate 24 of carriage 23 and at its other end to the plate |06 of carriage |04, this chain being trained over pulleys |32, |33 and |34, supported on the frame I4 of the mill; the other chain I3I being conr nected at one end to the plate 26 of carriage 23 and at its other end to the plate |06 of carriage |04 vand being trained over pulleys |36, |36 and |31 supportedon the frame I4 of the mill.

'I'he polishing elements I5 and I6, shown by way of example as blocks, may be formed of any suitable material and be of any desired form. For example they may be made of wood to which is nailed, or otherwise secured, superposed emery sheets of any desired number; or they may be stones, either stationary or revolving, which may be mounted in the clevises.

A valve |38 in the air exhaust pipe 18 settable to throttle the flow as desired, serves the purpose of regulating the speed of the polishers and also to provide a cushion against shocks and to avoid jerky movement of the mechanism.

If desired, a construction like the lever and latch mechanism of the upper polishing unit may be substituted for the means shown for controlling the positioning of the slide 29 relative to the carriage 23. Y

No claim is made herein to the mechanism disclosed for actuating the carriage 23 as this mechanism forms the subject of my application cowish to be understood as intending to limit it thereto as the construction shown may be variously modied and altered and the invention embodied in other forms of structure without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. The combination with a rolling mill, of a polishing element for engaging rolls of the mill at the nip between said rolls, reciprocable along said rolls, a carriage recirpocable lengthwise of said rolls, a slide on said .carriage reciprocable toward and away from said rolls and to which said polishing element is connected, a rotatable shaft having means for actuating said. slide, a lever on said shaft rotating the latter in a direction to forcesaid polishing element against said rolls, a pivoted latch device having a shoulder and a pin on said lever adapted to 'engage said shoulder and releasably support said lever in a position in which' said polishing element is withdrawn from said rolls.

2. The combination with a rolling mill, of a polishing element for engaging rolls of the mill A bevel surface at the nip between said rolls, reciprocable' along said rolls. a carriage reciprocable lengthwise'of said rolls, a slide on said carriage reciprocable 'toward and away from said rolls and to which said polishing element is connectedfa rotatable 5 shaft having means for actuating said slide, a

lever on -said shaft rotating the latter in a direction" to force said polishing element against said rolls, a latch device pivotally supported toward its upper end and having a shoulder, and 16 a pin on said lever adapted to engage said shouls der and releasably support said lever in a position in which said polishing element is with drawn from said rolls, said latch device having a cam surface adjacent said shoulder with which said pin engages and along which it moves to 

